The 90% silver and 10% copper ratio is often referred to as "coin silver." The mix was a mainstay of U.S. circulating coins from the early 1800’s until the Coinage Act of 1965 became law. Its use returned in 1982 for modern commemorative coins and in 1992 with the introduction of annual silver proof sets.

Actually, until President Obama signed the FAST Act in December 2015 which replaced the traditional 90/10 language with “not less than 90 percent silver,” the U.S. Mint by law had to produce silver coins for numismatic products like the annual sets in 90 percent silver.

Advantages of .999 Fine Silver Coins

There are several benefits in moving to more pure silver. As examples, when the U.S. Mint compared manufacturing data between the 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar in 90% silver and its .999 fine 2013 Proof American Silver Eagle, the following differences were discovered:

National Infantry(90/10 Alloy)

American Eagle Silver (0.999 Silver)

Comments

Die Life (coins per die)

600 coins

1800 coins

3X better with 0.999 Silver

Scrap (Haze related)

14% avg

10% avg

4% better with 0.999 Silver

Customer Returns

2% avg

1.3% avg

0.7% better with 0.999 Silver

Downtime (Cleaning dies)

80X/day

20X/day

4X less downtime with 0.999 Silver

In terms of quality, the Mint has found that the copper in 90/10 alloy exceeds the maximum solubility of copper in silver and can cause coin spots and hazing, which drives higher scrap rates and customer returns.

The "excess copper precipitates out of solution and can cause a buildup on the dies or could cause a harder blank surface," a Mint document describes. "The finished product displays varying amounts of breakup spots and haze."

.999 silver also flows better under pressure, resulting in superior fills and fewer strikes to make numismatic coins.

2019 Silver Sets

U.S. Mint annual sets for 2019 with coins having .999 fine silver purity will include the ATB Quarters Silver Proof Set (for release Feb. 21 at $36.95), the flagship Silver Proof Set (for release this spring at $54.95), and the Limited Edition Silver Proof Set (for release this fall at $149.95).

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Wow! Excellent. No more white spots caused by the CU? It makes it easier to purchase knowing it’s 99.9% pure. Agree?

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1 month ago

Guest

lonnie

#436149

yes, this is great news.

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1 month ago

Guest

BrotherYip

#436153

Milky Cloud spots still exist either using .999 pure silver , the Silver Eagle still have spots problem ! People still pay High Premium for Low price Metal !

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1 month ago

Guest

joera

#436225

I agree with you. The Silver Eagles have always had problems with milky spots. Some think it is usually coins bought on the second market from people that do not handle the coins carefully. I myself really don’t know the real reason for the spots but it is a problem that will continue. And as always.. that is just my humble opinion on that.

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1 month ago

Guest

RonnieBGood

#436349

Hi Joera,
Milk spots are caused by improper cleaning of the coin blanks. The wash is improperly done leaving metal from the minting process to oxidize. Basically, rust (never sleeps).

I like the change to 99.9% but this will have little affect on spotting.

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27 days ago

Guest

Lawrence

#436446

And thank you for the heads up on the transparency on metal discoloration.

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27 days ago

Guest

Lawrence

#436445

Thanks for the heads up.

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27 days ago

Guest

Carl O

#436155

And… The value of older 90/10 coins will likely go up as there wont be anymore of them made.

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1 month ago

Guest

JThompson

#436163

I for one think that this is a terrible change and a completely unnecessary abandonment of 227 years of historic consistency in the silver content of the real “dollar” as established by our founding fathers in the Coinage Act of 1792. The “dollar” coin should contain 371.25 grains of silver.

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1 month ago

Guest

Mr. John Keller

#436168

I agree

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1 month ago

Guest

Zula-mar

#436215

I tend to agree with you.

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1 month ago

Guest

Patrick Rodgers

#436315

Sounds good…just have to make a new dollar coin each year, and make it to size based on estimated cost of silver…

They should make them fractional sizes, 1/10z for dime, 1/4z for 25c et cetera……

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1 month ago

Guest

Jon

#436195

This sucks. Keep the content historical.

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1 month ago

Guest

Wham

#436198

When I first saw the headline, I was shocked..! After further reading, I’m delighted..! This is wonderful news..!

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1 month ago

Guest

D. Fooshee

#436200

I remember reading that Canada had problems with their .999’s because of spotting? I like this number better of course, but I wonder what if any is true? Who’s zooming who?

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1 month ago

Guest

Doug Franklin

#436204

I would like to see the mint start to make the Franklin Half Dollar again, the Kennedy is past the time it’s run, That would be good investment in 99.9 silver half.

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1 month ago

Guest

morgan

#436228

I can’t remember ever seeing a Morgan or Peace silver dollar with white spots. Why would copper be a problem now when it wasn’t then?

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1 month ago

Guest

Charles E Teune

#436229

I’m very happy to hear that decision they made about the new silver coins. Looking forward to seeing the new product.

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1 month ago

Guest

Roxanna

#436241

If they’re going 0.999 with silver, could the Mint at least do 95% copper on the pennies!? I can also live with 0.999 Copper pennies if people insist.

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1 month ago

Guest

Jay

#436438

I agree with that at least 0.999 % copper for Penney’s in the Silver Proof sets. That’s just my opinion. The people who purchase Silver Proof sets needs needs to start filling out those surveys and giving their opinion what they would like to see , and give their opinion. They might actually take it into consideration so fill those survey forms out and return them.

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27 days ago

Guest

Doug Taylor

#436268

I don’t like it. It’s going to be more difficult to make a decent ring out of them. Too soft at 99.9.

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1 month ago

Guest

Vadim

#436287

I’m hoping I could get a mint error as a result of this change.

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1 month ago

Guest

John Smith

#436288

Somebody must have finally retired.

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1 month ago

Guest

John Sliney

#436320

I love this idea. This idea will not only Be appreciated by the average coin collector put two silver collectors as well. Hats off to the mint For making this change. Can

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27 days ago

Guest

Triarii

#436326

Always a chance left over 90/10 blanks accidentally get used on 2019 and beyond coinage !

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27 days ago

Guest

Joseph

#436341

That just means that the Silver Coins will be fractional bullion coins . I certainly have no objection to this change .

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27 days ago

Guest

Jeff Moore

#436370

What is the other .1 percent

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27 days ago

Guest

Richard

#436875

I would expect copper, which is what historically has been used to harden precious metals for coinage. Maybe they are just “covering” themselves since getting really close to 100% purity of anything is difficult outside of a laboratory.

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24 days ago

Guest

Jeff Moore

#436881

Thank you richard I appreciate your reply I was just curious..it is true that it helps the mint also to cut down on operating cost but helps us collectively collecting lmao

Reply

24 days ago

Guest

Chuck

#436488

Well, well,
Would’t you know it, all the benefitst seem to be in the mints favor. Anything to reduce their operating expences. Will the mint pass on the savings in production to the collector? I think not! I’m a traditionalist, I prefer the same 90% silver coins that they have made for 200 years.
Just a note, you can get spots on any coin, any composition – it just happens. About the softness of 99.9% silver coins – with all the coins put in slabs today nobody touches them anymore. How can you damage a coin in a slab, unless you’re are trying to remove it.
Just an old man who is not fond of change!!! .

Reply

26 days ago

Guest

Michael Byrne

#438961

What is the A.T.B. Quarters wrapped in? Rumors abound it’s P.V.C. Making the color of the silver very off. What is causing this. No one is selling them. The grading services can not even guarantee a proof 69 . Never in eight years of this wonderful program has there been such problems.Sellers are reposting sets returned to them due to the off color. The you have an explanation.? Thank you Mike. I’m trying to help. Please understand. We just want to know. That’s all..